Will you vote?

On the afternoon of June 10, near the intersection of Throckmorton Street and Cedar Springs Road, Dallas Voice polled eight pedestrians about participating in this Saturday’s mayoral runoff election. Practically every citizen has Oakley vs. Leppert on the brain. But if you’re not already registered to vote, you can’t cast a ballot: The registration deadline was May 17.

As of May 12, there were 1,180,621 registered voters in Dallas County. Last month, only 130,313 ballots were cast, and of those, only 71,467 placed ballots for Dallas’ mayoral election.*

The early voting for the runoff election ran June 4-12. This weekend, we’ll find out if Dallas elects a gay mayor. And we’ll soon have unofficial totals about those who bothered to participate in the runoff.

* Unofficial final results from the May 12 election were obtained from the Dallas County Elections Web site.

ELECTION DAY Saturday, June 16. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To check precinct locations, call the Dallas County Elections Department, 214-819-6300 or visit dalcoelections.org

Who: Jennifer L. McEvoy Occupation: Barista Been in Dallas: Two years. Current neighborhood: Oak Lawn Registered voter? Yep Did you vote in the May 12 election? No Guess how many voters participated in last month’s election: Not enough, most likely. Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? No Runoff issue that matters the most: Crime Casting ballot for: Ed Oakley

Who: David Wilkins Occupation: Student Been in Dallas: All my life. Current neighborhood: Lake Highlands Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? Yes Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? Yes Runoff issue that matters the most: I’m just voting because it’s my civic duty. Casting ballot for: Ed Oakley

Who: Veronica L. Hernandez Occupation: Stripper Been in Dallas: Two years. Current neighborhood: Carrollton Registered voter? No. Guess how many voters participated in last month’s election: 30,000. If you could have exercised your right to vote, an issue that matters is: Gay rights.

Who: Daniel Burgess Occupation: Corporate communications manager. Been in Dallas: Two years. Current neighborhood: North Dallas Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? Yes Guess how many voters participated in last month’s election: 73,000 Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? No Runoff issue that matters the most: Trinity River project Casting ballot for: Ed Oakley

Who: Robert Ornelas Occupation: Staffing coordinator Been in Dallas: Eight years. Current neighborhood: Oak Lawn Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? No Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? Yes Runoff issue that matters the most: Equality

Who: Melody Temple Occupation: Registered nurse. Been in Dallas: 11 years. Current neighborhood: Plano Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? No Guess how many voters participated in last month’s election: 42,000 Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? No Runoff issue that matters the most: Misuse of funds.

Who: Bobby Heredia Occupation: Banking services Been in Dallas: 20 years. Current neighborhood: East Dallas Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? Yes Guess how many voters participated in last month’s election: A low number. Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? No Runoff issue that matters the most: Education

Who: Robert Tesson Field of occupation: Real estate Been in Dallas: 10 years. Current neighborhood: East Dallas Registered voter? Yes Did you vote in the May 12 election? Yes Planning to vote in the mayoral runoff election? Yes Will you be early voting? No Runoff issue that matters the most: Crime Casting ballot for: Ed Oakley